from the editor
from the editor
A Matter of When , Not If , for the Next Pandemic
For decades , those in the public health and infection prevention sectors have been asking when , not if , the next pandemic will strike . Even as we continue to sort through the wreckage that was the COVID-19 pandemic , talk of the potential for a large-scale avian influenza A ( H5N1 ) virus outbreak persists in the medical community .
Since April , the U . S . Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) has reported detections of H5N1 virus in U . S . dairy cattle in multiple states , and there have been a handful of cases of infection in humans caused by exposure to cattle and to chickens .
For now , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC )’ s updated recommendations include instructions for infection prevention and control measures , using personal protective equipment ( PPE ), testing , antiviral treatment , patient investigations , monitoring of exposed persons ( including persons exposed to sick or dead wild and domesticated animals and livestock with suspected or confirmed infection with HPAI A ( H5N1 ) viruses ), and antiviral chemoprophylaxis of exposed persons .
According to the CDC , clinicians should consider the possibility of HPAI A ( H5N1 ) virus infection in people showing signs or symptoms of acute respiratory illness or conjunctivitis and who have relevant exposure history outlined in the CDC guidance , Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A ( H5N1 ) Virus in Animals : Interim Recommendations for Prevention , Monitoring , and Public Health Investigations . If signs and symptoms compatible with avian influenza A ( H5N1 ) virus infection are present , CDC recommends isolating the patient and following infection control recommendations including using PPE ; initiating empiric antiviral treatment as soon as possible ; notifying state and
healthcarehygienemagazine local health department to arrange testing for influenza A ( H5N1 ) virus ; collecting respiratory specimens from the patient to test for influenza A ( H5N1 ) virus at the state health department ; encouraging the patient to isolate at home away from their household members and not go to work or school until it is determined they do not have avian influenza A ( H5N1 ) virus infection ; and starting empiric antiviral treatment with oral or enterically administered oseltamivir regardless of time since onset of symptoms .
As our sector remains on alert , the subject of Disease X and the next pandemic is front of mind and was part of the timely topics addressed at this year ’ s APIC conference held in June in San Antonio , Texas . In this issue , we bring you highlights and summaries of the most relevant information and trends discussed by experts at this meeting , including perspectives from IP & C experts who addressed the current avian influenza cases as well as myriad other emerging infectious threats . As co-presenter Mariana Portillo Torres , MD , observed , “ Over the last 20 years , we have had at least seven public health emergencies of international concern . And they are happening more frequently and with greater intensity . They include influenza , COVID , dengue , rabies , measles , cholera , malaria , and even diphtheria . All of these are vaccine-preventable diseases which represent approximately 70 percent of all the infectious disease threats that we encountered last year .” See page 23 for more details .
Until next month , bust those bugs !
Kelly M . Pyrek Editor & Publisher Kelly @ healthcarehygienemagazine . com
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6 • www . healthcarehygienemagazine . com • july 2024